Services

What kind of patients can First Choice help?

Back and Neck Pain/Injury: research supports prompt physical therapy treatment in acute spinal injury. Your back or neck pain is treated with specific exercises, general physical conditioning and traction when indicated. Your condition may also respond to the McKenzie Method or Mulligan Techniques. Special treatments are offered for Back pain during pregnancy.

Sports Injuries: Skilled in the evaluation and treatment of athletic injuries, our physical therapists, many of whom are also certified athletic trainers, will use evidence-based techniques to rehabilitate and effectively return the athlete to the field of play. Sports performance programs are offered to enhance speed, agility or power and to prevent future injuries. ACL Injury Prevention Program.

Foot and Ankle Problems: Gait Dysfunction, Foot Dysfunction/Orthotics. Our modern foot orthosis casting technique and foot force plate analysis provide unparalleled arch support to block over-pronation and rehabilitate the numerous associated conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonosis/tendonitis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, and chronic knee pain. Our therapists examine the lower extremity kinetic chain to determine how foot dysfunction can be reflected up the leg to cause knee, hip or back problems.

Work Injuries: Functional Capacity Evaluations are performed by a specially trained therapists and one-on-one communication with the employer is stressed. An individualized plan to return the worker appropriately is undertaken and progress is communicated.

Balance and Vestibular Problems: Patients suffering with vertigo and dizziness can be helped with an evidence-based program of physical therapy. General balance can be improved through a program of exercise and stretching that can be done in the clinic and at home.

Certified Hand Therapy: A Certified Hand and Occupational Therapist is on staff to treat patients who require customized splinting, tendon, nerve and ligament repair rehab, arthritic changes to the upper extremity, tendonitis, carpal tunnel and thoracic outlet conditions and amputations.

Lymphedema: Swelling can be treated by a specially-trained therapist who specializes in post-mastectomy treatment and for patients with lower extremity lymphedema. Our physical therapist is a Certified Custom Fitter by Jobst for Elvarex garments.

TMJ: TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, or the jaw joint. Physical therapists are trained in evaluating and treating the mechanical factors that contribute to TMJ trouble.A therapist who understands TMJ problems can adequately develop a well rounded program to address the patient’s needs.

Sprains and Strains: Prompt treatment is imperative to decrease pain and swelling - and consequently dysfunction - associated with injury; chronic sprains and strains benefit from proprioceptive training and muscle strengthening, which provides the body with the means to better protect itself.

Headaches: Tension and cervicogenic Headaches can improve significantly with proper physical therapy; even patients with migraine-type headaches often find relief from gentle exercise, postural awareness training, cervical traction, and manual therapy.

Osteoporosis: Aerobic conditioning, resistance exercise and weight-bearing exercise provide whole-body activity to promote healthy bones. In addition, postural exercises and breathing exercises have been demonstrated as effective.

Fibromyalgia: Gentle, progressive aerobic conditioning and resistance exercise combined with stretching and manual therapy can aid a reduction in symptoms.

Osteoarthritis (OA): It is well documented that as surrounding muscle strength increases, pain and dysfunction related to OA decrease at the corresponding joint; active strengthening exercises are the key to treating these patients.

Overuse syndromes: A variety of overuse or repetitive stress injuries such as Bursitis/Tendonitis at the knee, elbow, or shoulder, can benefit from modalities such as Iontophoresis with the gradual increase of activity following strengthening and stretching programs.

Deconditioning: General muscle weakness that could impair activities of daily living or independence is a recognized diagnosis. Our programs strengthen weak muscles and improve patient's functional activity levels.

Postural Dysfunction: Selective strengthening and stretching combined with postural awareness training will correct postural abnormalities that lend themselves to disorders such as back and neck pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and headaches. Ergonomic postural training may also be beneficial.

Pre/Post-operative orthopedic conditions: Increasing patient conditioning prior to surgery (e.g., knee) better prepares patients for recovery; post-operative care optimizes outcomes by closely monitoring and treating common post-surgical complications such swelling, stiffness, muscle atrophy, and general deconditioning.

Urinary Incontinence: Bladder control problems may be significantly improved with physical therapy interventions such as pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises, dietary and fluid modifications, biofeedback, and bladder retraining. In 1996, the Agency on Health Care Policy and Research cited such interventions as the recommended "first line" of treatment for urinary incontinence. Literature reveals a 54-87% success rate with this type of approach to the treatment of incontinence; we boast an 80-90% success rate amongst our patients.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Conditions such as: pelvic pain, vulvodynia, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), coccydynia (painful tailbone), pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence are all amenable to physical therapy treatment. Patients are taught how to relax and coordinate their pelvic floor muscles for optimal function, and dietary factors and lifestyle habits that may be contributing to the problem are addressed as well. Research has shown success rates ranging from 50-90% for improvement of quality of life and pelvic muscle function.

Neurologic patients: Patients who have suffered neurologic damage can benefit from our program which focuses on helping individuals regain the ability to better perform function tasks including: walking, stair climbing, bathing, and dressing. These individuals may also benefit from our specially designed Balance and Fall Prevention Program.

Myofascial Release Therapy